Method of and means for rendering metal bands supple



May 11 1926. 1,584,499

F. ZAC HHUBER METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR RENDERING METAL BANDS SUPPLE Filed Feb. 16 1924 PATENT OFFICE.

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METHOD OF AND MEL NS FOB BENDERING METAL BANDS BUBBLE.-

Application filed February 16, 1924. Serial 110. 693,358.

My invention relates to a method of, and to means for, rendering supple metal-bands, especially. such as are intended for use in connection with tools for the manufacture 6 of metallic protective tubes, principally such tools as are described in my pending United States application Serial Number 617 ,394, filed February 6, 1923.

If a long metal band is being wound on 10 a small roll, it is subject to receiving bends which become troublesome later on when the band is wound s irally so as to be turned into a tube the bends can become actually detrimental in regard to the manufacture of 1 drawn tubes from such bands as they can make it practically impossible to drawa tube of a band having, perhaps, a plurality of bends. This fact has been revealed by the practical use of the tool shown and described inthe above-mentioned application. That tool is used in connection with small rolls onto which about 20 meters of metalband are wound, the radius of the curvature of the convolutions being, therefore,- very short. The roll from which the metal-band is wound off, is by far larger and contains about 500 meters thereof. On this large roll no bends will arise, but they arise pretty easily on the-small one.- and articles manu- 80 'factured thereof, for instance protectivetubes as above mentioned, are likely to receive cracks or breaks, or they bulge out and may even burst.

It has now been discovered by thorough investigation that the drawback mentioned can be overcome by rendering the metal band perfectly supple along its entire length by causing it to pass through a certain device which, practically, exerts a kind of a kneading action on the band and renders it soft. This is effected by causing the band to form undulations, either in the direction of its length, or transversely thereto or in both ways; the formation of the undulation is repeated until every part of the band has become soft; this may be'eflected by hand or, preferably, with the aid of a suitable device as described, by way of example, hereinafter.

This device is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side-view thereof, and Figure 2 is a plan of :1 roll forming a part or member of the, device.

Before entering into thedetails of the device I mention that the metal-band is bent each other in staggered arrangement, and

arranged in such a. way relatively to each other that the band is undulated on its way from the rolld to the roll h, as shown. Instead of rotary rolls stationary disks may be employed so that the band slides on those parts of the peripheries with which it is in contact. The disk may then be partly rotated from time totime in order to make up for the wear and tear caused by the friction of the band on the 'disks."

The peripheral or circumferential surfaces ofthe rolls or disks need not be flat, but

may be rounded as shown in Figure 2, so that the metal-band is bent also at right angles to its longitudinal direction whereby the effect is considerably improved, the more as the band is subjectedto the both deformations at a time.

If, stationary circularly curved members are used as bending means for the metalband, it is 'notabsolutely necessary that the same arecircular, i. e. complete disks, but the stationary parts may have any other shape, provided, there are curved surfaces over which the band can be drawn andby which it is bent or undulated either in its longitudinal direction or transversely at right angles thereto, orin both ways.

When the metal-band has left the last roll or disk or other, equivalent, member it is so supple that it can be wound on a very small roll, such as 2', without the slightest danger as to the arising of bends or the like. It is not rendered difficult in any way to wind lengths of 20 meters on a small roll, andthe drawbacks formerly met with are now completely overcome. The thus treated metalband can then be turned into the desired article, for instance and especially tubes of the kind mentioned in the above-stated United States application, and with the aid of the tool described in that specification.

Although I have shown in the drawing an apparatus having five rolls or disks, I wish it to be understood that there may be less or more than five, just desired or preferred or thought necessary from any reasons whatever. v I p I. claim: I

1. The method of rendering metal-bands supple, consisting in clirving the band in its longitudinal direction, as well as transversely thereto and then rte-establishing, its original fiat surface, substantially as dedescribed.

2. The method of rendering metal-bands supple. consisting in curving the band repeatedly in longitudinal direction, as well as transversely thereto, and then re-establishing its original flat surface, substantially as described.

3. A device for rendering metal-bands supple, comprising, in combination, a. plurality of members following each other in staggered arrangement and having each a curved peripheral surface which is curved in the direction of motion of the band, as well as transversely thereto, and means for drawing the metal-band through between said members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature FRANZ ZACHHUBER. 

